Certificate of correction



Sept. 24, 1963 A. R. ADAMS 3,104,906. ESCUTCHEON MOUNTED LOCK ACTUATOR HANDLE Filed Aug. 15, 1960 Hen/0e B. Hon/v.5

INVENTOR. MIRA/(V f 1140149 0601. flzlor-heys {or flpp/fcant United States Patent 3,164,906 EUTCHEGN MOUNTED LOCK ACTUATOR HANDLE Arthur R. Adams, Flintridge, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Adams Rite Manufacturing Company, Glendale, Calif a corporation of California Filed Aug. 15, 1%), Ser. No. 86,244 7 Claims. (Cl. 292-3363) The present invention relates generally to lock actuator mechanisms, and is more particularly concerned with a unitized assembly containing an actuator handle and mounting escutcheon plate.

It is one object of the herein described invention to provide an esc-utcheon mounted lock actuator unit assembly containing an actuator handle and cam member, which may be mounted in a conventional lock cylinder opening of a door.

Another object is to provide a unit assembly of the herein described type having cooperative elements \which are readily and easily repositioned to accommodate the unit for right and left hand installations.

Still another object is to provide a unit assembly of the above type in which a main actuator shaft is connected with a spaced pivoted cam member through an adjustable gear and pinion drive permitting the unit to be accommodated for varied conditions of installation.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a lock actuator embodying the features of the present invention, and showing the cooperative relationship between elements thereof;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

Referring generally to the drawings, the lock actuator of the present invention is disclosed as comprising an escutcheon member, as generally indicated by the numeral 10, and composed of an elongate plate-like portion 11 and a cylindrical portion 12 projecting from an inner face of the plate portion. The escutcheon member may be cast or die formed of suitable material, and is arranged to be mounted on a ttlat surface of a door frame 13, as shown in dotted lines, with the cylindrical portion 12 positioned in a conventional lock cylinder receiving opening 14.

The cylindrical portion 12 is provided with a central bore 15 within which there is rotatably mounted a shaft 16 of square section. The shaft 16 is provided with a cylindrical bushing 17 which is rotatably supported in the bore 15 and has at its innermost end a crank member 18 afiixed to the shaft 16 :for rotation therewith, the crank member having anouter arm portion 19 which extends in spaced relation and parallel to the shaft 16.

The outermost end of the shaft 16 projects beyond the front face of the plate-like portion 11 and carries one or more cam stops 20 which are positioned within a surface recess 21. As best shown in FIG. 3, the cam stops are provided with circumferentially spaced shoulders 2223 which are adapted to engage upon limited rotation of the shaft 16 fixed shoulders 24-45, respectively, or a pin 26 adapted to be selectively positioned in a suitable opening 27 immediately in front of the shoulder 24 or shoulder 25. An actuating handle 28. is secured to the outermost end of the shaft 16 as by a screw 29 which permits the handle to be attcahed in reversed positions for right and left hand installations.

A coiled spring 30 extends around the shaft 16' adjacent the crank member 18, this spring having end por tions 31 and 32 respectively extending past the opposite sides of the outer arm portion 19 of the crank member and an overlying fixed projecting finger 33 formed on the cylindrical portion 12. The end portions 31 and 32 of the spring thus coast with the arm portion 19 and projecting finger 33 so as to normally retain the shaft 16 in an intermediate position between its stop limits of rotation as determined by the shoulders 22 and 23 of the cam stops 20. However, movement in either direction from this position 'will be resiliently opposed, and upon release of the rotating force will act to return the shaft to the predetermined position.

The outermost end of the shaft 16 is provided with a contracted extension 34 upon which there is rotatably mounted a segmental gear 35, while outwardly of the gear 35 there is affixed to the extension 34- a plate member 36. This plate member has .a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 37 and 38 therein, which are adapted to selectively receive a screw 39 into threaded engagement with a threaded opening (not shown) formed in the adjacent face of the segmental gear 35. Thus, by placing the screw 39 on the opening 37 or opening 38, it is possible to relatively adjustably shift the gear 35 circumferentially of the axis of shaft 16 to accommodate the unit for right and left hand installation by changing the position of a cam member 39.

The cam member 39 is rotatably supported for swinging movement about a pivotal axis at one end thereof, this pivotal axis being spaced below the axis of rotation of the shaft 16. The cam member 39 is constructed with a bearing portion 4t} which is rotatably supported within a recess bore portion '41 =formed in the cylindrical portion 12. The cam member is actuatable by means of a pinion 42 rotatable about an axis which is coincident with the pivot point of the cam member 39. The pinion '42 is in meshed engagement with the teeth of the segmental gear 35. It will thus be apparent that when the gear 35 is rotated in one direction, the pinion 42 will rotate in an opposite direction to move the cam member through an angular position as represented in FIG. 1 by the full line and dotted line positions thereof, these positions being determined by the normal predetermined position of the shaft 16, and its stop position of rotation as determined by the engagement of shoulders 22 and 24, as shown in FIG. 3. For this movement of the cam memher, the screw 39' will be positioned in the opening 37, and the pin 26 will be positioned in front of the shoulder 25.

In order to accommodate the unit assembly for an opposite hand installation, the screw 39' will be positioned in opening 38, the pin 26 shifted to a position in front of shoulder 24, and the handle 28 changed to a reversed position to that shown in FIG. 1.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the unitized escutcheon mounted lock actuator handle arrangement as described above provides a unique self contained actuator unit which may be readily applied to a door in the opening ordinarily utilized to receive a lock cylinder.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A manually operable lock actuating unit assembly arranged for mounting from the outer surface of a door in a conventional lock cylinder receiving opening therein, comprising: an escutcheon member having a mounting plate portion engageable with the door surface adjacent the lock cylinder receiving opening, and a cylindrical housing portion projecting from an inner face thereof adapted to be positioned in and extend through the lock cylinder receiving opening of the door; a shaft rotatably supported between its ends in said cylindrical portion; an actuating handle secured to said shaft and positioned on the outer face of said place portion; a cam member at the inner end of said cylindrical portion adapted to actuate an associated lock mechanism, said cam being pivoted on the projecting portion for swinging movement about a pivot axis lying within the outer periphery of said cylindrical portion, but being spaced from the axis of rotation of said shaft; and motion transmitting means within the periphery of said cylindrical portion connecting saidshaft and said cam member for swinging said cam member about its pivot axis in response to rotational swinging movement of said shaft by said handle.

2. A manually operable lock actuating unit assembly arranged for mounting from the outer surface of a door in a conventional lock cylinder receiving opening therein, comprising: an escutcheon member having a mounting plate portion engageable with the door surface adjacent the lock cylinder receiving opening, and a cylindrical housing portion projecting from an inner face thereof adapted to be positioned in and extend through the lock cylinder receiving opening of the door; a shaft rotatably supported between its ends in said cylindrical portion; an actuating handle secured to said shaft and positioned on the outer face of said plate portion; a cam member at the inner end of said cylindrical portion adapted to actuate an associated lock member, said cam being pivoted on the projecting portion for swinging movement about a pivot axis lying within the outer periphery of said cylindrical portion, but being spaced from the axis of rotation of said shaft; motion transmitting means wholly contained within the confines of the outer periphery of said cylindrical portion connecting said shaft and said cam member for swinging said cam member about its pivot axis in response to swinging movement of said shaft by said handle; means limiting the angular rotation of said shaft between spaced stop points; and spring means normally biasing said shaft in a direction of movement towards one of said stop points.

3. A manually operable lock actuating unit assembly arranged for mounting from the outer surface of a door in a conventional lock cylinder receiving opening therein, comprising: an escutcheon member having a mounting plate portion engageable with the door surface adjacent the lock cylinder receiving opening, and a cylindrical housing portion projecting from an inner face thereof adapted to be positioned in and extend through the lock cylinder receiving opening of the door; a shaft rotatably supported between its ends in said cylindrical portion; an actuating handle secured to said shaft and positioned on the outer face of said plate portion; a cam member at the inner end of said cylindrical portion adapted to actuate an associated lock mechanism, said cam being pivoted on the projecting portion for swinging movement about a pivot axis lying within the outer periphery of said cylindrical portion, but being spaced from the axis of rotation of said shaft; and means carried by said cylindrical portion including a gear and pinion connection between said shaft and said cam member for swinging said cam member about its pivot axis in response to swinging movement of said shaft by said handle, said gear and pinion being wholly contained within the outer peripheral confines of said cylindrical portion.

4. A manually operable lock actuating unit assembly arranged for mounting from the outer surface of a door in a conventional lock cylinder receiving opening therein, comprising: an escutcheon member having a mounting plate portion engageable with the door surface adjacent the lock cylinder receiving opening, and a cylindrical housing portion projecting from an inner face thereof adapted to be positioned in and extend through the lock cylinder receiving opening of the door; a shaft rotatably supported between its ends in said cylindrical portion; an actuating handle secured to said shaft and positioned on the outer face of said plate portion; a cam member at r the inner end of said cylindrical projecting portion adapted pivoted on the projecting portion for swinging movement about a pivot axis lying within the outer periphery of said cylindrical portion, but being spaced from the axis of rotation of said shaft; a gear carried by said shaft; and a pinion carried by said cam member having meshed relation with said gear, whereby rotation of said shaft in one direction acts to rotate said cam member in an opposite direction, said gear and pinion being contained within the periphery of said cylindrical portion.

5. A manually operable lock actuating unit assembly arranged for mounting from the outer surface of a door in a conventional lock cylinder receiving opening therein, 7 comprising: an escutcheon member having a mounting plate portion engageable with the door surface adjacent the lock cylinder receiving opening, and a cylindrical housing portion projecting from an inner face thereof adapted to be positioned in and extend through the lock cylinder receiving opening of the door; a shaft rotatably supported between its ends in said cylindrical portion; an actuating handle secured to said shaft and position on the outer face of said plate portion; a cam member at the inner end whereby rotation of said shaft in one direction acts to rotate 'said cam member in the opposite direction, said gear and pinion being contained within the periphery of said cylindrical portion; and means for adjustably positioning said gear circumferentially of said shaft so as to angularly vary its position thereon and the position of said cam member for a predetermined shaft position.

arranged for mounting from the outer surface of a door in a conventional lock cylinder receiving opening therein, comprising: an escutcheon member having a mounting plate portion engageable with the door surface adjacent the lock cylinder receiving opening, and a cylindrical housing portion projecting from an inner face thereof adapted to be positioned in and extending through the lock cylinder receiving opening of the door; a shaft rotatably supported between its ends in said cylindrical portion; spaced stops limiting the angle of rotational movement of said shaft; spring means retaining said shaft at a normal predetermined position between said 3 stops and resiliently opposing movement of the shaft in,

opposite direction away from said position toward said stops; a cam member at the inner end of said cylindrical projecting portion adapted to actuate a lock mechanism mounted on the inner surface of the door, said cam being pivotally supported on the projecting portion for swinging movement about a pivot point at one end thereof; a

pinion connected with said cam member having an axis of rotation coincident with said pivot point and lying within the outer periphery of said projecting portion; a. gear carried by said shaft meshing with said pinion and cooperating therewith to transmit movements of said shaft to said cam member; and means for manually rotating said shaft.

7. A manually operable lock actuating unit assembly arranged for mounting from the outer surface of a door in a conventional lock cylinder receiving opening therein,

comprising: an escutcheon member having a mounting 6. A manually operable lock actuating unit assembly plate portion engageable'with the door surface adjacent the lock cylinder receiving opening, and a cylindrical housing portion projecting from an inner face thereof adapted to be positioned in and extending through the lock cylinder receiving opening of the door; a shaft rotatably supported between its ends in said cylindrical portion; spaced stops limiting the angle of movement of said shaft; spring means retaining said shaft at a normal predetermined position between said stops and resiliently opposing movement of the shaft in opposite directions away from said position toward said stops; a cam member at the inner end of said cylindrical projecting portion adapted to actuate a lock mechanism mounted on the inner surface of the door, said cam being pivotally the outer periphery of said projecting portion; a gear carried by said shaft meshing with said pinion and cooperating therewith to transmit movements of said shaft to said cam member; means for manually rotating said shaft; and means for adjustably varying the relative position of said gear on said shaft to change the angular position of said cam member at said normal shaft position, so as to accommodate the actuating unit for right and left-hand installations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 817,878 Shepard Apr. 17, 1906 2,731,821 Lloyd Jan. 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 597,382 Great Britain Ian. 23, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 104,906 September 24, 1963 Arthur R. Adams It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

C olumn 2, line 1, for "attcahed in 100" read attached in 180 line 29, for "installation" read installations column 4, line 59, for "direction" read directions Signed and sealed this 14th day of April 1964.

(SEAL) Attest: EDWARD J. BRENNER ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A MANUALLY OPERABLE LOCK ACTUATING UNIT ASSEMBLY ARRANGED FOR MOUNTING FROM THE OUTER SURFACE OF A DOOR IN A CONVENTIONAL LOCK CYLINDER RECEIVING OPENING THEREIN, COMPRISING: AN ESCUTCHEON MEMBER HAVING A MOUNTING PLATE PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH THE DOOR SURFACE ADJACENT THE LOCK CYLINDER RECEIVING OPENING, AND A CYLINDRICAL HOUSING PORTION PROJECTING FROM AN INNER FACE THEREOF ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED IN AND EXTEND THROUGH THE LOCK CYLINDER RECEIVING OPENING OF THE DOOR; A SHAFT ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BETWEEN ITS ENDS IN SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION; AN ACTUATING HANDLE SECURED TO SAID SHAFT AND POSITIONED ON THE OUTER FACE OF SAID PLACE PORTION; A CAM MEMBER AT THE INNER END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION ADAPTED TO ACTUATE AN ASSOCIATED LOCK MECHANISM, SAID CAM BEING PIVOTED ON THE PROJECTING PORTION FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT A PIVOT AXIS LYING WITHIN THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION, BUT BEING SPACED FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT; AND MOTION TRANSMITTING MEANS WITHIN THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION CONNECTING SAID SHAFT AND SAID CAM MEMBER FOR SWINGING SAID CAM MEMBER ABOUT ITS PIVOT AXIS IN RESPONSE TO ROTATIONAL SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT BY SAID HANDLE. 